Real Madrid’s fortnight of destiny

Real Madrid’s dream of becoming the first ever major club to bag a historic seven trophy septuple that the 2024-25 season offers went up in smoke in January as the Bernabeu side lost to Barça in the Spanish Super Cup final.

After winning the UEFA Super Cup last August and following up with a FIFA Intercontinental win in Jeddah last December, Ancelotti’s men had bagged two of the seven titles on the line this season. The Copa del Rey, LaLiga, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and Spanish Super Cup offered the other pathways to seventh heaven glory.

After the loss to Barcelona last month, the forthcoming fortnight sees ‘Los Blancos’ play key games in the Copa del Rey along with a monumental Champions League two legged playoff tie against Manchester City.

Real Madrid’s key fortnight

The intense activity for Ancelotti’s men commences on Wednesday evening as they travel to Butarque to face Leganés in the Copa del Rey quarter final. Recent injuries to David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger deliver a defensive headache for the Italian coach who has also decided to rest Mbappé and Bellingham for the cup clash.

Saturday’s LaLiga clash is a Madrid derby at the Bernabeu with just a solitary point separating both ‘Merengues’ and ‘Colchoneros’ at the top of the table. The action in Chamartin gets underway at 3pm (ET) on Saturday, February 8.

Champions challenge

Having failed to secure a top eight finish in the new look Champions League group stage, Madrid will have to overcome a playoff round if they are to progress to the final sixteen. Friday’s draw saw the Spanish side pitted against Manchester City with the first game scheduled for Tuesday, 11 February at the Etihad Stadium and the return fixture eight days later in the Spanish capital.

Sandwiched in between the UCL double-header is a tricky away LaLiga trip to Pamplona to face Osasuna in what is set to be a fortnight of intense action for Carlo Ancelotti and his side with results of the five games set to be instrumental in shaping the outcome of the season ahead.

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